Christy Moore was on holiday with his family on the island of Inis Meain when two brothers from a neighbouring island Inis Iarr were lost and drowned from their small fishing boat. When the alarm was raised the people of Inis Meain began searching the seashore to see if the bodies of the brothers had washed up on their island. Christy and his family were involved in the search and they witnessed the sorrow and grief of the gentle people of Inis Meain as they searched the remote and lonely places of the island for the bodies of the brothers. There is much intermarriage between the two communities and ties of family and neighbourlyness run deep. Christy wrote the words and some of the air to this seemingly simple song, but as a frequent visitor and friend to the people of Inis Meain I can attest that he captured the mood and feeling of the incident to perfection.

Christy Moore is a very gentle and caring person and although he was on holiday with his family at the time of this incident he organised and performed a free concert for the islanders. The occasion of the concert is well remembered on Inis Meain and Christy's generosity and kind-hearted gesture will never be forgotten by the proud inhabitants of that beautiful and sacred little island.